Wire-fabric-knitting machine.



PATENTED AUG'. 13, 1907.

I. I. YOUNG.

WIRE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE.

.APPLIGATION-FILLED SEPT. 18. 1906.

'6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 863,482. PATBNTD AUG. 13, 1907.

I. J.`YOU.NG.

WIRE FABRIC KNIITING MACHINE.

APRLIGATION FILED SEPT. 1a. 190e.

a snsnkTs--smn z.

.3f/74g o No. 863,482. PATBNTIID AUG. Is', 1907.

l I. J. YOUNG.

WIRE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 18,1906.-

. 6 SHEETS-SHEET a.

PATENIED AUG. Is, 1907. I. I. YOUNG. WIRE FABRIC KNITIING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 18. 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 863,482. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

I. J. YOUNG.

WIRE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.18,1906.

-SEEETS-SHEBT 5.

drawings, formingl a part hereof.

' can be advantageously used for doormats, chair seats,

`a central position on the machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical UNITEDSTATFiSlAgENT OFFICE. 4

IRA J. YOUNG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WIRE-FABRIC-KNITTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA J. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wire-Fabric-Knitting Machines, of which the following isa specification containing a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying My invention relates to a wirefabric knitting machine, and the particular object of my invention is toprovide a simple machine which can be operated with a minimum amount ofpower, and which will automatically form from a singlestrand of wire afabric which bed bottoms', and analogous purposes.

A further object of my invention is to construct mechanism which will soform the loops of the fabric as that said fabric will lie perfectly flatwhile in use, without buckling or curling up at the ends and corners.

A further object of my invention is to construct a machine for knittingwire fabric which is entirely automatic in all its operations, and whichrequires no attention after having been started in operation other thanthe maintenance of a sufficient amount of wire which is formed into thefabric.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the right hand portion of the machine,and showing the traveling carriage in section taken on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine;Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line '4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a frontelevation of the extreme left hand end of the machine, Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the wire feeding mechanism', Fig. 8 is a frontelevation of the feeding mechanism,with a portion thereof in section;Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig.2; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of a pair of plates which engageand elevate a portion of the feeding mechanism at the ends of itstravel; Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 11 11of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of one oftheneedles, and showing its connection with one of the needle levers; Fig.13 is a perspective view of the lower end of a vertically reciprocatingplate which operates directly behind the needles, and which forms thebends in the loops of the fabric; Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of theupper end of one of the needles, portions thereof being in section; Fig.15 is a front elevation of the upper end of one of the needles; Fig. 16is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 1(3 16 Patented Aug. 13,1907.

of Fig. 2; Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line17-17 of Fig. 1, and showing a rock shaft actuating finger; Fig. 18 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 1.8 18 of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is anenlarged cross section taken on the line 19 19 of Fig. 16; Fig. 2O is anenlarged elevation of the parts seen looking in the direction indicatedby the` arrow 20, Fig. 2 Fig.

, 21 is a detail section of the parts through which the upper ends ofthe needles operate, and showing a portion of the fabric adjacent saidparts, and .with the feeder between the needles; Fig. 22 is a plan viewof a series of the needles, with a portion of the fabric thereon;

Fig. 23 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 23 23 ofFig. 21, and showing the needles at their downward limit of movement,and with the wire engaged thereby; Fig. 24 is an edge View of a portionof fabric formed by our improved machine.

The fra-me of my improved machine comprises a pair of end pieces 1,connected by a bed plate 2 on the front side of the machine, and by arail 3 at the rear. Formed integral with the end frames 1, above the bedplate 2, are the upwardly projecting plates 4, and joining the rearportions of these plates 4 is a rail 5. The ends of a shaft 6 are seatedin the forward upper corners of the plates 4, which shaft supports thetraveling carriage of the machine. Formed integral with and projectingforwardly from the plates 4 are brackets 7, in which is journaled ashaft 8, provided with a longitudinally extending groove 9, and theright hand end of said shaft is extended and has -mounted thereon a gearwheel 10. A shaft 11 having right and left hand screw threads 12 formedthereon is journaled in the plates 4 a short distance below the shaft 6and to the rear of the shaft 8, and mounted on the left hand end ofthisshaft is a belt wheel 13; and mounted on the right hand end is apinion 14, which meshes with the gear wheel 10; and adjacent the pinion14 is a small sprocket wheel 15. J ournaled in the plates 4 immediatelyto the rear of the screw shaft 11 is a shaft 16, in which is formed alongitudinally extending key way 17; and fixed on the extended righthand end of said shaft is a pinion 18, which meshes with the pinion 14.

.Iournaled in bearings, depending from the end frames 1, is a shaft 20,on the extended right hand end of which is loosely mounted a sprocketwheel 21, the inner hub of which is provided with a clutch face 22; andpassing around this sprocket wheel 21 and the sprocket wheel 15 is achain 23. v Fixed to the front face of the rail 5 is a longitudinallyextending bar 24, and fixed to the rail, immediately above said bar 24,is a second bar 25. Formed at regular intervals through the rearportions of these bars 24 and 25 are vertically alined apertures 26,through which the needles of the machine operate, and formed in the topside of the rail 25, immediately adjacent the needle apertures 26, arerecesses 26a, which are for the purpose of receiving the wire of whichthe fabric is formed when the needles aer moved downwardly, (see Fig.23.) Each needle com prises a vertically disposed body portion 27,having a horizontal opening 28 at its center' to receive one of theneedle levers, and detachably secured to the upper end of each bodyportion 27 is an upper needle portion 29, which operates through onepair of the alined openings 26, and the extreme upper end of this upperportion 29 is formed into a hook 30. The upper portion 29 is madedetachable in order that said portion may be replaced when worn orbroken, without the necessity of replacing an entire needle. The lowerends of the body portions 27 of the needles operate through suitableopenings 3l formed in the rear end of the bed plate 2. Formed in thefront edge of the each hook 30 is a recess 32, and formed in the frontedge of the upper portion 29, immediately below the hook 30, is a recess33. These recesses are for the reception of a lug S4 carried by theinner upper end of a stripping finger' 35, which is formed integral witha plate 3G, which is fixed to the top sides of the rail 5 and bar 25,(see Figs. 1 4 and l5.) There is one of these stripping fingers 35 foreach needle, and the lugs 34 on the fingers are for the purpose ofcausing the wire loops of which the fabric is formed to readily pass outfrom beneath the hooks 30. Bearing against the front edges of theneedles, and carried by the rail 24, are spring pressed tension plugs37, which are for the purpose of frictionally engaging the needles, andsaid plugs are adjustable. by means of set screws 3S, thus providingmeans for creating the proper amount of friction against each needle.

Arranged on top of the rail 3 is a longitudinally extending rod 39, andfulcrumed thereto are the rear ends'of a series of needle levers 40,which extend forwardly through the openings 28 in the body portions 27of the corresponding needles, and the forward ends of which leversterminate just below and in front of the shaft 16.

The traveling carriage 4l of my improved machine comprises a verticallydisposed member 42, and formed through the upper end thereof is abearing 43, which receives the shaft 6, and formed through the lower endis an opening 44 which receives the screw shaft ll. Formed integral withthe upper end of the member 42 is a horizontally arranged member 45,through which is arranged to slide a shaft 46. Formed integral with therear side of the member 42, at the lower end thereof, is a bracket 47,which is provided with a bearing 48, which receives the shaft 16; andformed integral with the front side of said member 42 is a downwardlyand forwardly projecting bracket 49, the front end of which isbifurcated and is provided with bearings 5() which receive the shaft 8.

The feeder' mechanism of the machine which travels immediately in frontof the upper ends of the needle comprises a rectangular block 5l, in thefront side of which is :formed anopening 52, and formed integral withthe top of said block is a bracket 53, which is rigidly fixed to theforward end of the shaft 4G. Arranged to slide in the opening 52 is ablock 54, to which is rigidly fixed a short rod 55, the ends of whichproject through the ends of the block 5l; and formed in said rod atsuitable distances from its ends are notches 5G.- Set screws 57 areseated in the ends of the block 5l, and project into the openings 52therein to limit the movement of the block 54. Pivot-ally mounted on theends of the block 5l arc locking fingers 58, the lower ends of whichrido on top of thtl bar 25, and which fingers are adapted to eng ge inthe notches 56 to lock the rod 55 and block 54 a t cach end of theirmovement. Passing vertically through thtl extended end of the block 54and loosely mounted therein is a vertically disposed rod 5S), on thecenter of which is fixed a. block (i0, the rear face of which bearsagainst the front face of the bracket 53. Formed integral with the frontend of this block l() and curving downwardly therefrom is a feederfinger trl, in the outer end of which is formed a vertical aperture o2.through which the wire passes in being fed to tho needles. Rigidly fixedin the upper end of the rod 59 is a pair of horizontally disposedparallel rods tl,

Arranged to slide through each of the plates l in direct longitudinalalinement with the ends of the rod 55 is a rod G4, the inner end ofwhich is provided with a head G5; and fixed to said rod is a coil springoo. the opposite end of which bears against thc corre sponoling plate 4;and these rods are for the purpose of shifting the rod 55 and block 54wheneverl the feeder reaches the ends of its travel. Mounted on the endsof the bar 25 are inclined plates 67, which are in the path of travel ofthe lower ends of the locking fingers 58 and which elevate said fingersout of the notches 56 to allow the rod 55 and block 54 to be shifted.Formed integral with the top of the member 45 at thtA rear end thereofis an arm (i8, with which is formed integral a rearwardly extending arm(59, and carried by the rear end of said arm is a block 70, throughwhich is arranged for vertical movement a bar 7l, carrying on its lowerend a plate 72, which travels directlyv bohind the needles andimmediately over tho rear portion of the plate 3G. The upper end of thisverti -all \v moving bar 7l is fiexibly connected to the rear end of alever 73 fulcrumed to the upper end of a standard 74, carried by themember' 45; and pivotally connected to the forward end of this lever arethe upper cnds of a pair of vertically disposed connecting rods 75, thelower' portions of which extend below the front end of the member 45.Fulerunred to the front .side of the member 45 is a bell crank 7G, theouter ond of thc horizontal nrember of which is eoirnectcd by means ol atransverse pin 77 to the lower ends of thc rods 75. and to a shortvertically disposed link 7S. The upper end of the vertical arm of thebell crank 7o is pivotalljY connected to the rear end of a rod 79, theforward end of which is connected to the lower end of :t loop $0, whichis detachably fixed to the forward end of a, shaft 4G.

Loosely mounted on the shaft S, between the arms of the bracket 49, is apair of disks Sl, and arranged on said shaft S, between these disks, isan eccentric disk 82, provided with an integral key S3, which travels inthe key way f). A plate 84 is provided with a circular opening whichreceives the disk 82, and connected to the upper end of said plate S4 isa rod S5, the upper end of which is connected to the link 7S. l`lnnicchanism just dcscribed provides means for imparting vertical movementto the bar 7l and plate 7 2, and also for imparting reciprocatory motionto the shaft lo, and the feeder mechanism.

The rear portion of the bracket 47 is bifurcatcd, and

GBAS- arranged therein is an eccentric disk 86, which is provided with akey 87, which travels in the key way 17 in the shaft 16, which eccentrictravels immediately over the forward ends of the needle levers 40, anddepresses the same in succession in order to move the needlesdownwardly. Fixed on the under side of the bracket 47 is a block,through which is arranged to slide a bar 89, in one edge of which isformed a pair of oppositely arranged inclined shoulders 90. Pivotallymounted in the forward portion of said block is a lever 91, to the endsof which are pivotally connected the rear ends of arms 92, whichoperatethrough openings in the front of the block 83, and which are provided ontheir forward ends with plates 93, which are arranged to engageimmediately over the forward ends of a series of thel needle levers 40after the same have been depressed.

Posts 94 are arranged on the bed plate 2 directly in the path of travelof the ends of the bar 89, for the purpose of shifting said bar at theends lof the travel of the carriage 41 to reverse the positions of theplates 93, which reversal is brought about by the action of the inclinedshoulders 90 against the ends of the lever 91. Journaled in the plates 4between the shafts 6 and 16v is a rock shaft 95, and frxedon the righthand end thereof is a rearwardly projecting lever 9 6, which normallyrests on a stop 97 formed on the right hand plate 4. Connected to thefree end of this lever 96 is the upper end of a vertically disposed rod98, which operates through bearings 99 formed on said plate 4, therebeing an expansive coil spring 100 mounted orr this rod beneath one ofthe bearings, and engaging on a collar 101 carried by said rod, thusnormally forcing said rod downwardly.

Arranged to rotate with and slide upon the right hand end of the shaft20, adjacent the sprocket wheel 21, is a collar 102, the outer end ofwhich is formed into a clutch face 103, which engages with the clutchface 22; and formed in the top of said collar 102 is a notch 104, inwhich the lower end of the rod 98 normally engages. When so engaged, thecollar 102 is so held that the clutch face 103 is out of engagement withthe clutch face 102. lnterposed between the collar 101 and the righthand bearing 19 is a stiff expansive coil spring Fixed on the rock shaft95, inside each end plate, is a pair' of vertically disposed fingers106, the inner ones of which are provided at their ripper ends withinclined faces 107, and arranged to slide through each pair of fingersis a rod 108, on which is fixed a collar 109; and bearing against saidcollar, and against the outer one of each pair of fingers 106 is anexpansive coil spring 110. Formed integral with and projectingrearwardly from the member 42, between the shafts 6 and 11, is a pair ofarms 111, and fixed in said arms is a longitudinally arranged rod 112,the ends of which are beveled, as indicated by 113, in opposition to thebeveled edges 107 of the ngers 106.

Hinged to a bracket 114 formed integral with the rear side of the member42 is a swinging arm 115, and fixed to the outer ends of the arms 111are fingers 116, which act as stops to limit the swing of said arm 115.Formed integral with the top of the bracket 47 is a pair of upwardlyprojecting bearings 117 in which is arranged to slide a longitudinallydisposed bar 118,

and fixed to the center of said bar and to the outer end of the swingingarm 115 is a retractile coil spring 119. Fixed to the right hand side ofthe member 42 is an upwardly projecting bracket 120, in the outer end ofwhich is jonrnaled a short vertical shaft 121, the lower end of which isprovided with a curved runner 122, which is adapted to travel in thethreads of the screw shaft 11. Formed integral with the upper end of theshaft 121 is a forwardly projecting arm 123, the outer end of whichprojects through an opening 124 formed in the right hand end of the bar118. The runner 122 acts as a nrrt upon the shaft 11 to govern thedirection of travel of the carriage 41, and the bar 113 and swinging arm115 are for the purpose of shifting the runner from the right handthread to the left hand thread, and vice versa.

Arranged to slide vertically on the rear face of the rail 5 is alongitudinally disposed bar 1.25, and fixed on the top thereof is aninclined bar 126. Secured to this bar` 126, adjacent cach end, is anupwardly projecting arrn 127, the rrpper end of which is bent forwardly,and fixed to said forwardly bent upper end is a'horizontally disposedplate 128, the inner end of which is bifurcated, as designated by 129,and

this pair of plates is in direct horizontal alincment with the ripperend of the rod 59 which bears the parallel rods 63.

Mounted on the shaft 20, adjacent each end frame, is an eccentric 130,around each of which passes a strap 131, and secured to each strap is avertically disposed rod 132, the upper cnd of which is connected to therear end of a lever 133. Each of the levers 133 is pivoted at itsforward end to the corresponding end plate 4, and connecting the rearends of said levers is a cross bar 134, which extends immediatelybeneath the centers of all of the needle levers 40. Connected to thiscross bar 134, adjacent its ends, are the lower ends of a pair ofrctraotile coil springs 135, the upper ends ofwhich are secured to therail 5.

Pivoted at their rear ends to the end frame 1 are horizontally disposedlevers 136, the same being journaled to the levers 133 by means of pins137 and pivotally connected to the forward ends of said levers 133 arethe lower ends of vertically disposed rods 138, the upper ends of whichpass through the webs of the rails 5, and are adjustably connected tothe rear sides of the vertically sliding bar 125.

The mechanism just described provides means for elevating the cross bar,which in turn elevatcs the needle levers 40 after the same have beendepressed, and said mechanism also elevates the sliding bar 125 andparts carried thereby to strip the wire fabric from the needles after arow of loops have been formed on said fabric.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: A belt applied tothe belt wheel 13, and driven in thel usual manner, drives the shaft11., and the rotary motion thereof is imparted by means of the gearwheel 10 to the pinions 14 and 18, and to the shafts 1l and 16 onwhichsaid pinions are mounted. Rotary motion is also imparted to thesprocket wheel 21 by means of the sprocket chain 99 traveling aroundsaid sprocket wheel, and the sprocket wheel 15. The runner 122 travelingin the proper thread in the screw shaft 11 and being held inproper-'position by the bar 118 will travel along in the thread ol saidshalt 1l, and, as result, the carriage 41. will he likewise moved alongsaid shalt, and the shalts 0, 8, and .1.6. The shalt 8 being rotatedoperates the disk S2, and the plate 8-1 and connections thereto arealternately raised and lowered, and in this manner the bell crank 7G isswung upon its lulcrum. The conn eeting rod 1.70 sh il ts backwardly andforwardly, and in like manner the shalt 4G is shilted in the ripper'member Ll5 ol the carriage .l-l. This reciprocating motion moves theleeder lnutkwardly and lorwardly in such a manner as to move thel'eeding linger' (il. sucH ccssively between the upper ends el theneedles, and the wire ol which the labric is lormed is suspended in anysuitable manner above the center ol the machine, and said wire passesthrough the vertical eye 62 ol the linger', and is carried therebybeneath the hooks 30 on the ripper' ends ol the needles in succession`(see Fig. 22.) 'lhe vertical movement ol the plate 84 is imparted to therods 75, and as a result the lever 73 is actuated, and the bar 7l isreciprocated vertically, and the plate 72 on the lower end ol said baris moved ver tically, and in succession over the loops that were lormedby the needles on their prior' movements, in order to bend said loopstransversely at their centers, which bend is necessary to cause thelabric to lie llat, and to overcome any tendency to curl or buckle, (seeFigs. 2l and 24.) When the plate 72 descends, the previously lormed rowol loops lie straight, with their rear ends bea-ring on the top ol theinclined bar 126, (as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 21,) and the leederlinger carries the wire beneath the hooks on the upper end ol' theneedles over this row ol loops, (as shown in Fig. 22.) lnnnediatelyalter the wire has been carried beneath each needle, said needle ismoved downwardly following the depressingl ol the corresponding needlelever l0 by the eccentric 8o, the high portion ol which bears upon thelorward ends ol the needle levers in succession, and moves the samedownwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, whicheccentrieI rotates with the shalt 1G, and is moved longitudinally onsaid shalt with the carriage Ll1. Immediately alter the lorward ends olthe levers f1.0 have been depressed, the plate 03 which has been movedlorwardly by the actuation ol the shilting bar S9 passes over the rearends el the needle levers to prevent their being elevated by reason olan upward pull ol the wire engaged in the hooks on the upper ends olsaid needles. The opposite plate 93 during this travel is movedrearwardly to its limit ol movement against the block SS. Thus thecarriage travels from one end ol the machine to the other, and the wireis engaged beneath the hooks ol all ol the needles, and, during saidtravel, the plate 72 has bent all ol the loops previously lormed by theneedles, (as shown in Figs. 2l and 24.) As the needles are moveddownwardly, the wire is engaged and pulled diuvmvardly into the recesses26, (as shown in Fig. 23,) so that when the carriage reaches the end olits travel, all ol the needles are so positioned. As the carriagereaches the end ol its travel, the beveled end l 13 ol' the red 1.1.2engages against the beveled edge 107 ol one ol the lingers 106, and, asa result, said .linger is swung lorwardly, (as indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1.7,) which movement rocks the shalt; 95, in turn elevating theouter end ol the lever 9G. This movement elevates the rod 98 against theresistance ol the coil spring 1.00,

thereby withdrawing the lower end ol said rod lrom the notch 1.041-, andreleasing the collar 102. which is mounted upon a key carried by theshalt 20 is lorced outwardly by the pressure ol the coil spring untilthe clutch laces 103 and 22 are engaged.

The rotary motion ol the sprocket wheel 2l. will now be imparted to theshalt 20, and, as a result, the ceci-ntrics 130 will be rotated a singleturn, and, as a result. the rods 132 will be elevated. This 'verticalmovement is in turn imparted to the rods 13S through the lcvcrs 133 and130, and in turn the bars 125 and 12() are che vated, which willelevated the labi ic l'roin the top ol the rail 5, and strip the lastlormed series ol loops .l'rom thc lingers 35 on which they have beenheld. This vcrtical movement ol the rods 1.32 also elevaies ilic crosshar 134, and, as a result, all ol the needle levi-rs l0 are elevated totheir normal positions, in turn elevating the needles, and the bentportions ol' the wire. which were engaged by the hooks on the upper endsol the needles, and which have been occupying thc rcccsscs 20, will,during this elevating movement ol the nccdlcs, iide out ol the openingsbeneath the hooks 30, and will be engaged over the lingers 35immediately in .iront oi' the needles. .lust prior to the movement. olilic carriage toward one end ol the machine, the end ol' ihccorresponding. one ol the rods 10S will be engaged by the side oi theswinging arm 11.5, and said rod ltl will be gradually moved outwardly,thus storing power in the coil spring 1.10. As soon as the power storcdtherein oveicomes the resistance ollered by the coil spring 1.10, theswinging arm will be shilted trom one side lo the other, (as shown bydotted lines in Fig. lo.) which movement takes place suddenly, owing tothe tension ol the coil spring 1 l0, and, as a result, thc bar llo' isshilted into a reverse. position, thus swinging the arm 123, andchanging the position ol the runner .122. 'lhis action results in areversing ol the travel ol the carriage 42, and as soon the beveled end113 ol the rod 112 leaves the beveled edge 1.07 ol the linger 10G, theroi-k shalt 95 will return to its normal position, owing to the powerstored in the coil spring 1.00; and, as a result. thc lower end ol therod 0S will descend onto the periphery ol the collar 102, and passtherelrom into the notch 10i. and the continued rotation ol said collarwill cause one ol the laces at the ends ol said notch to bear againstthe lower end ol the rod 08, and, as a result. said collar will, by itsown rotation, become disengaged lroni thc Clutch lace 22, and in sodoing will compress thc spring 105. r\t each end ol the travel ol thecarriage l l, thc corresponding end ol the bar S0 strikes against one olthc posts lll, and, as a result, said bar is reversed in position, andthe correslion ding inclined shoulder 00 reverses thc position ol thelever 0l, and in turn reversing the positions ol the plates 03, (seedotted lincs Fig. 0.) When the carriage 4l reaches the ends ol itstravel, the bilnrcated end ol the plate 12S passes between thc parallelrods (S3 carried by the rod 50, and,` as a result. when the bar iselevated, said rod 50, together with the block (l0, and the linger (il,will likewise be clcvatcd. this n'iovement taking place at each. cnd olthe travcl ol the carriage, and is lor the purpose ol' elevating thclinger at the time the labric is stripped lrom the needles and lingers35. Simultaneous with this movcmcnt at the end ol the travel ol thecarriage 11, the correspond ing end ol the rod 55 engages against thecorrespond ing This collar head 65 of one ofthe spring actuated rods 64,and as the corresponding one of the locking fingers 58 rides up theadjacent inclined plate 67, which movement unlocks said rod 55 bydisengaging the finger from the notch 56, the rod 55 will be shiftedlongitudinally, which movement carries the block 54 and parts carriedthereby from one position to another in the opening 52. This operationis for the purpose of getting the feeder finger G1 immediately inadvance of the needles as they are depressed by the action of theeccentric 86 on the needle levers 40; and the locking fingers 38engaging in the "notches 56 lock the blocks 54 and parts carried therebyat the ends of their` movement in the block 51,

A machine of my improved construction operates very rapidly and with aminimum amount of power, and the automatic reversing movements at theends of the travel of the carriage take place rapidly and in propersequence, Therefore, wire fabric can be very rapidly manufactured, andthe machines require no attention after being set in operation7 otherthan'to be supplied with the necessary wire.

rhe body of the fabric after being formed extends downwardly behind theinclined bar 126, and over the web on the rear of the rail 5.

1 elaim:- f

l. In a machine of the class described. a series of vertiv callydisposed needles, hooks formed at the upper ends of said needles, meanswhereby wire is carried in succession beneath the hooks of the needles,means whereby the needles are moved downwardly in succession immediatelyafter the wire has been carried beneath the hooks thereof, and meanswhereby all of the needles are simultaneously ele vated; substantiallyas specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposedneedles, hooks formed at the upper ends of said needles, means wherebywire is carried in succession beneath the hooks of the needles, meanswhereby the nee dles are. moved downwardly in succession immediatelyafter the Wire has been carried beneath the hooks thereof, means wherebyall of the needles are simultaneously elevated, and means whereby thewire is stripped from beneath the hooks of the needles; substantially asspecified.

3. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposedneedles, hooks formed at the upper ends of said needles, means wherebywire is carried in succession beneath the hooks of the needles, meanswhereby the needles are moved downwardly in succession immediately afterthe wire has been carried beneath the hooks thereof, means whereby thewire is stripped from beneath the hooks of the needles, means wherebythe wire loops formed by the needles are bent immediately after saidneedles are depressed; and means whereby all of the needles aresimultaneously elevated; substantially as specied.

4. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposedneedles, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, a needle lever engagingeach needle, means whereby the 'needle levers are successively engagedto move the needles downwardly, means whereby wire is carriedsuccessively beneath the hooks of the needles; and means whereby allofthe 'needles are simultaneously elevated; substantially as specified`5. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposedneedles, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof to engage the wire ofwhich the fabric is formed, a stripping finger rigidly positionedimmediately in front of the upper end of each needle, a projectionintegral with each stripping finger', and there beingrecesses formed ineach needle above and below the hook thereon to receive the projection;substantially as specified.

G. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposed,needles, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, meanswhereby wire iscarried successively beneath the hooks of the needles, means whereby theneedles are moved down\\':frrdly immediately after the wire has beencarried beneath the hooks thereof, means whereby the fabric is strippedfrom the needles immediately after they have all been moved downward;and means whereby all of the needles are simultaneously elevated;substantially as specified.

7. In a machine of the class described, a series of loop forminglneedles, means whereby wire is fed successively to said needles, meanswhereby said needles are depressed in succession after the wire has beendelivered thereto, means whereby all of the needles are simultaneouslyelevated after beingdepressed, and means whereby the wire feedingmechanism is, caused to reverse its travel after havingl delivered wireto all the needles; substantially as specified.

S. In a machine of the class described, a series of loop forming needlesu feeder operating adjacent the portions of said needles which forni theloops, means whereby the feeder is simultaneously reciprocated and movedlongitudiually means whereby the needles are successively moveddownwardly innnediately after a reciprocating movement ei' the feeder'.and means whereby all of the needles are simultaneously elevated at thecompletion of each longitudinal movement of the feeder; substantially asspecified.

il. In a machine of the class described, a series of necA dles arrangedfor vertical reclprocation, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, afeeder arranged to operate adjacent the hooks, a finger carried by saidfe'edcr, means whereby said feeder' is moved longitudinally in front ofthe hooks, and at the same time rcciprocated to carry the lingersuccessively between the hooks; means whereby the needles are moveddownwardly in succession after the re ciprocatingA movements of thefeeder, and means whereby all ol' the needles are simultaneouslyelevated at the completion of each longitudinal movement of said feeder;substantially as specified. 4

l0. ln a machine of the class described, a series of needles arrangedfor vertical reciproeation, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, afeeder arranged to operate adjacent the hooks, a linger carried by saidfeeder, means whereby said feeder is moved longitudinally in front ofthe hooks and at the same time reciprocated to carry the fingersuccessively between the hooks, and means whereby the travel of thefeeder is automatically reversed after having delivered wire to all ofthe needles in one direction; substantially as specified.

11. In a machine of the class described, a series of vertically disposedneedles, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, means whereby wire iscarried successively beheath the hooks, means whereby the needles aremoved downwardly in succession immediately after the wire has beendelivered to the hooks thereof, a series of ngers rigidly xed in frontof the upper ends of the needles for en* gaging the loops of wire afterthe same have been formed by the needles, means whereby the loops arestripped from the fingers, and means whereby each loop is benttransversely at its center during the time it is engaged on the finger;substantially as specified.

12. In a machine of the class described, a series of needles arrangedfor vertical reciprocation, hooks formed at the upper ends thereof, acarriage arranged to travel adjacent the needles, a feeder' mounted onthe carriage for deliveringwire to the hooks, means whereby the feederis reciprocated as it moves with the carriage, means whereby the needlesare depressed after the wire has been delivered thereto, means wherebycertain' of the needles are held against elevation after beingdepressed, and means whereby the direction of rtravel of the carriage isautomatically reversed after it has passed all of the needles;substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA J. YOUNG.

Witnesses M. I. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE.

